Wednesday marks the first anniversary of Eluned Morgan’s tenure as First Minister.
Beyond leading her party into the upcoming Senedd election, her initial task involved stabilizing a Labour group fractured by a contentious dispute concerning a £200,000 donation to her predecessor from an individual prosecuted for illegal waste disposal.
Internal disagreements within the group have been subdued, at least publicly, with only sporadic instances of conflict.
However, a disagreement over candidate selection in Cardiff, a Welsh Labour stronghold, following the rejection of Owain Williams, has the potential to reignite internal strife and division.
Prior to his formal disqualification, sources indicate that Williams was at the center of an internal dispute, reportedly involving the First Minister’s alleged intervention on his behalf.
Simultaneously, private discussions revolve around whether this incident represents a continuation of the division between supporters of Morgan’s predecessor and those aligned with her current Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles.
Mark Drakeford’s decision to retire at the end of 2023 initiated a leadership election, pitting Jeremy Miles against Vaughan Gething.
Miles was defeated by Gething, whose campaign received a substantial financial boost – significant by Welsh Labour standards – from a company linked to an individual previously convicted of illegal waste disposal.
Initial private murmurings evolved into a public outcry, culminating in resignations from the Welsh Government cabinet that ultimately led to Gething’s departure.
Gething has since receded from public view and will be leaving the Senedd next year. However, Miles remains in the cabinet and is seeking re-election.
Recent weeks have seen Welsh Labour determining candidate placements in the newly expanded constituencies for the larger Senedd.
Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf encompasses areas from Cardiff’s northern suburbs to Roath near the city center, and eastward to Trowbridge and Llanrumney.
It represents one of Labour’s most competitive selection processes, where Owain Williams was considered by some to be a leading contender.
Williams, a management consultant and Oxford graduate, authored Miles’ leadership manifesto and is a frequent Labour commentator in Welsh-language media.
However, his candidacy encountered a setback.
His application was deemed out of order – a decision upheld by an appeal panel of Welsh Labour’s executive committee.
According to a source, the reason cited was a discrepancy between his home address in the Vale of Glamorgan and his party membership in the Cardiff North Westminster constituency.
This constitutes a breach of Labour rules designed to prevent entryism dating back to the Militant tendency.
Reportedly, Williams claims to have informed his local party, but his details were not updated in time.
A source questioned this explanation, suggesting the initial disqualification stemmed from Williams’ close association with Jeremy Miles.
The source stated that there was “no other sensible interpretation. People’s individual reactions since this has made it very clear that that’s what’s going on.”
The individual speculated that Williams might be perceived by some as part of an effort by Miles to position himself for a future leadership bid, should a vacancy arise following a Labour defeat in the next election.
This leadership theory was dismissed by the same source as “fantastical on many different levels”.
However, another individual familiar with the situation refuted claims that the initial rejection was linked to a Miles/Gething dynamic: “I don’t think Vaughan’s people are that organised.”
“If people want to be candidates, you know what the application process is, do it right,” they added.
Despite this administrative hurdle, Williams ultimately made it onto the longlist for the seat.
Two sources – on opposing sides of the argument – have indicated that this followed the involvement of the First Minister and complaints from at least one minister, Jeremy Miles.
This has not been confirmed or denied by Morgan’s office.
One source suggested ministers intervened because they viewed it as a “battle for the control of the party” and were concerned about an alleged attempt to prevent someone from the pro-devolution wing of the party from becoming a candidate.
The implication being that the officials who made the decision are more aligned with Westminster than Cardiff, at least in the source’s view.
However, the other individual familiar with the initial rejection, and who was displeased with the alleged intervention, complained “of a process that has seemingly been overwritten by the will of the first minister”.
They accused Williams of having opened “lots of doors for himself to get himself back on this list – something other party members don’t have the ability to do”.
What is Morgan’s position, or that of her staff, regarding her alleged involvement in the selection process?
On Tuesday, attempts were made to solicit comments from both Morgan and Miles on the aforementioned points. No response has been received.
Welsh Labour’s press office stated that it would not add to its previous comment on the issue.
It stated: “Ranking for all those seeking re-election has completed. All those who have applied to be a candidate for the remaining slots have gone through robust due diligence procedures and the process of shortlisting those candidates is ongoing.”
Williams’ bid was ultimately unsuccessful, and he failed to make the constituency’s shortlist.
When questioned about the issue at the Eisteddfod maes in Wrexham, Morgan addressed the topic directly, stating she was a “big fan” of Williams and would like him to be a candidate.
She was among the notable figures within the party who advocated for Williams.
Alun Davies, the Blaenau Gwent MS involved in drafting Labour’s 2026 manifesto, stated on X: “It is now clear that there is a significant lack of confidence in the Welsh Labour selection process.”
“Most people I know in the party agree with [the first minister].”
However, one source speculated that Williams’ initial administrative issue – that allegedly prompted ministerial involvement – likely worked against him when he faced the mix of local and national party officials responsible for shortlisting.
The notion that ministerial involvement might have alienated local officials was cited as a potential drawback by another individual interviewed. Another source dismissed the idea that Williams was rejected due to his pro-devolution stance.
The selection process for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf now proceeds to the stage where the party must determine the order in which the list is presented to the public.
The higher a candidate appears on the list, the greater their chances of being elected to Cardiff Bay next May.
The specific methodology for determining this order remains undecided.
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